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Helen Cortezano

Fun fact

Last year, I watched 100 films and read 57 books. Both are great sources of learning. Many of the ideas I developed and the way that I see the world today are mostly a product of the films I have seen and books I have read. Learning, be it through films, books, art, languages, or conversations, excites me!

What has been your favourite experience in NSW?

The lively festivals and the vibrant art culture! NSW never runs out of festivals to celebrate and art to exhibit so there is always something to see and enjoy. And, most of them are free. If not, then there is always the option to volunteer. This is how I managed to watch several critically-acclaimed films during the Sydney Film Festival, experience fringe-style theatre, cabaret, and circus during Bondi Feast, and try out French wines and cheeses during Bastille Festival Sydney without spending dollars to buy tickets.

The quality of education is also top-notch. In the year that I have spent with Kaplan Business School, I have witnessed innovative teaching methods being implemented which helped improve my learning capabilities. They were also very supportive in helping me get an accounting internship which allowed me to apply the theories I learned in school to real-life scenarios.

After being in Australia for over a year now, I can definitely say that I made the right choice of studying in NSW.

Where is your home country?

Philippines

What do you study?

Master of Accounting

Where do you study?

Kaplan Business School

What languages do you speak?

Filipino, English, Korean

What advice do you have for other international students?

Explore and go out of your comfort zone. As an international student, this is your time to study, enjoy, and learn as much as you can before the pressures of securing a full-time job and building your career comes in after graduation. By then, it will be a totally different journey and you won’t have much room to make mistakes. So go out and meet people, make friends, create memories, do something new, and don’t always use money as an excuse. If you’re creative and resourceful enough, there’s always a way to do things you’ve always wanted to do. Now, go ahead and create your own story.

What opportunities has studying in NSW given to you?

NSW is one of the best destinations to study. For one, there are plenty of scholarships available to international students. I was awarded the High Achievers Scholarship from Kaplan Business School and it has been a great help in financing my studies. But I have also wanted to do more than just studying within the walls of the classroom and NSW offers a lot of learning opportunities.

I was accepted into the City of Sydney's International Leadership and Ambassador Program (ISLA) where I helped develop initiatives to promote the welfare of international students. Through this program, I was able to widen my network and make friends with people from various cultures and learn from them. The training provided on leadership, public speaking, cultural intelligence, etc. are also valuable lifelong skills that I can apply even after I graduate.

As an aspiring Certified Public Accountant (CPA), I am also grateful for the support and welcoming environment for students of the local CPA Australia. Their monthly seminars are open to students and have been a great networking opportunity for me with professionals in the industry.